Any caregivers out there?

[WeedMyLips]

Im getting a caregiver soon and I was wondering if caregivers do physical therapy? But just stretching to reduce spasms so I can take a shower without kicking the wall.

Thanks,
Mathew

[Emi2]

I taught my caregivers to do my range of motion, there was no problem with it.

"Each moment in time we have it all, even when we think we don't."
--Melody Beattie, writer and counselor

[pep84]

I use to have her perform range of motion on my legs every morning before my shower(about 40 min). They joke about it amongst themselves how they are aids, therapist, cook, maid, counselor, massuese, when I start hearing that mumbo jumbo I usually crack the whip and the gets them in line again! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[marmalady]

Your aide can/should do whatever it is you want and teach them to do, barring any no-nos they may have if they're with an agency. The agencies here in NJ frown on aides doing manual transfers unless the person is already pretty mobile and can assist a lot; transfers otherwise have to be done with a hoyer.

You may find yourself having to teach your aide about lots of things, unless you get one with SCI experience (which not a lot have). MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT AD IS, and how to handle it. You may have to teach them the specifics of your bowel/bladder routine.

My son's aide (and we prefer to call her his 'personal assistant' when introducing her to people) does ROM in the morning, helps with dressing, gets him breakfast, takes him to doc's or therapy appointments, makes lunch, does his laundry, and generally helps him stay organized. She's a real godsend, and we're so glad to have found her.

Remember too, that you're the boss; if you're fairly recently out of rehab, I think there's a tendency to relate to your personal aide, like the ones in rehab, where they were - sort of - the 'bosses', in the sense that you went by their schedule. Now it's a whole new ballgame, and you're the employer.

There's good info on www.spinalcord.org (http://www.spinalcord.org) On the main page, look at the index, and click on caregivers. You'll find lots of topics on hiring, training, and dealing with aides.

good Luck!!


Pep - Gee, that's how I feel as a mom caregiver! You forgot pharmacist and urology nurse in your list. Oh, and financial consultant, too. If there's any whipcracking in our house, it's usually me who's doing it!!!
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Tough times don't last - tough people do.

[KLD]

PCAs that you hire without an agency can do anything you would do for yourself if you were able, including bowel and bladder care, dressing, bathing, feeding, ROM and assistance with other exercises, household chores, assistance animal care, etc. etc. etc.

Mathew, since you are new at the PCA employer role, you may want to look over this resource for some good ideas on how to assess your needs, recruit, interview and hire, supervise and (if needed) fire your own PCAs.

http://www.wa-ilsc.org/toc2ack.html